Wheel assembly device

ABSTRACT

A wheel assembly device for use in conjunction with a conventional cement floor finishing machine, which permits movement of the cement floor finishing machine by a single person by means of the combination of wheels and assemblies of the wheel assembly device, which permits easy and rapid movement of the cement finishing machine without interference or damage to any part of the cement floor finishing machine.

PATENTED DEC Vl 1 1815- SHEET l UF 2 WHEEL ASSEMBLY DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a new and different type of wheel assembly device which provides quick and easy movement of a cementfloor finishing machine by a single person due to the features of this invention.

2. Prior Art Although various types of machine dollies have been known in the prior art, applicant knows of no prior art showing the particular structure and combination of parts of the wheel assembly device described and claimed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a new and novel wheel assembly device for use in conjunction with a conventional cement floor finishing machine. The wheel assembly device will permit easy moving of the cement floor tinishing machine as desired by a single person. In the past, such a cement floor finishing machine required two persons to move it, one at the handle of the machine, and another person at the front of the machine.

The wheel assembly device provides easy attachment to a cement floor finishing machine by longitudinal brackets, and by clamps provided by the wheel assembly device for the handle of the cement floor finishing machine.

The wheels of the wheel assembly device are easily raised and lowered as desired by means of a slide bar lock assembly which permits locking of the wheels in a down position when the cement floor finishing machine is desired to be moved. After the cement floor finishing machine has been placed in the desired position, operation of a lever will release the slide bar lock,

' so that the wheels of the wheel assembly device can be moved in an upright position off the ground or floor, as the case may be, thereby leaving the cement floor finishing machine in the desired position for use.

Due to the novel construction and operation of the wheel assembly device, only one operator is needed to move the cement floor finishing machine as desired.

lt is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a wheel assembly device for easy and rapid movement of a cement floor finishing machine by a single person.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wheel assembly device which is relatively easy to construct and assemble.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wheel assembly device which can be easily connected to, and used in conjunction with, a conventional cement fioorvfinishing machine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a wheel assembly device for use in conjunction with the cement floor finishing machine, which device is composed of relatively few components, and is comparatively light weight in construction.

These and other objects will be more readily understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. l is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention showing the wheels in a down position, said embodiment being attached in position on a conventional cement floor finishing machine, which machine is partly shown.

FIG. 2 is a section of FIG. l taken along line 2-2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4.of FIG. l.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, in open position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention in position with a cement finishing machine partly shown, which embodiment shows the wheels in an up position.

The wheel assembly device l0 has a frame 12 wit two longitudinal brackets 14 maintained in a generally parallel position by cross-bars 16 and 17. The brackets 14 each have a slight inward taper and a slight convexity.

The wheel assembly device 10 has a clamp 18 for connection to the handle 20 of a cement floor finishing machine 22 (partly shown in the drawings). The clamp 18 is maintained in position by arms 2l rigidly formed at an angle from frame l2.

The wheel assembly device l0 has a lever arm assembly 24 having a rod 26 with a handle assembly 28 pivotally mounted at the outer end of rod 26.

Handle assembly 28 has a semi-circular bar 30 with teeth 32 formed along its inner side. Handle 29 of handle assembly 28 has a detente member 3l which engages the teeth 32 of bar 30. A connecting bar 34 is pivotally mounted at its middle portion to the handle assembly 28 and is bolted at each end to one end of semicircular bar 30. Connecting bar 34 has a flange 36 to which a clamp 38 is mounted to receive the end portion of handle 20.

Handle assembly 28 has a pivotally mounted lever 40 to which one end of a release cable 42 is attached.

The other end of release cable 42 is attached to a slide bar lock assembly 44. Slide bar lock assembly 44 has two parallel longitudinally mounted bars 46 rigidly mounted at their respective ends on cross bars 16 and 17 respectively. The bars 46 each have slots 48 in their middle portions.

The slide bar lock assembly 44 has a spring loaded slide bar 50 with eyes 52 formed at each end. A spring 54 is attached to each of eyes 52, and is connected at its other end to cross bar `17 of frame l2. The eyes 52 are located within the slots 48 of bars 46.

The inner end of release cable 42 is connected to the* middle portion of slide bar 50.

A pair of wheel brackets 56 are pivotally mounted at their inner ends to cross bar 17. The outer ends of wheel brackets 56 are connected by an axle 58 having a wheel 60 mounted at each end.

The inner ends of wheel bracket 56 have a shoulder 62 which receives slide bar 50 to maintain the wheels in the down position.

In operation, the wheel assembly device l0 is attached to a conventional cement finishing machine 22 by inserting the handle 20 of the machine 22 through clamps 18 and 38, and bolting the clamps 18 and v38 to secure the handle 20. The brackets 14 are bolted to the housing 64 of the machine 22. The wheel assembly device 10 is now ready for use.

Lever 40 is then moved forward, thereby releasing the slide bar 50 from its locked position. Handle 29 of the handle assembly 28 may then be moved forward to lower the wheels 60. After the wheels 60 are in the down position, the slide bar 50 is returned to the locked position. The cement floor finishing machine 22 is now ready to be moved by a single person to the desired location.

Because of the unique construction and arrangement of components of the wheel assembly device 10, there is no interference with the performance of the cement floor finishing machine 22. No part of the wheel assembly device 10 comes into contact with the newly placed concrete at any time. All components of the wheel assembly device l are within the confines of the guard ring 66 of the machine 22.

Moreover, the wheel assembly device causes no interference with any of the troweling blades 68 of the machine 22, which can be in any position at any time.

Where there are changes in floor slab elevation, up or down, a single operator need only lower the wheel 60 of the wheel assembly device 10, tilt the machine 22 slightly back, and roll the machine 22 backwards to the desired location, and then raise the wheels 60 to the up position. The machine is then ready for use as desired.

Similarily, when the floor areas are finished, a single operator may then roll the machine 22 onto a truck all by himself, without the aid of another person.

Although I have described my invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein claimed.

l claim:

l. A wheel assembly device for use in conjunction with a cement floor finishing machine, comprising:

a substantially rigid frame having means for fixedly securing said device to said machine; wheel bracket means pivotally mounted on said frame for movement between a raised and a lowered position and having wheels attached thereto; lever arm assembly means operably connected with said wheel bracket means; handle assembly means including mounting means for mounting said handle assembly means on the handle of said machine, said handle assembly means including a handle operably connected with said lever arm assembly whereby, in response to movement of said handle, said wheels and said wheel bracket means may be moved between said raised and said lowered positions; slide bar lock assembly means including a slide bar slidably mounted on said frame, said wheel bracket means having shoulder means thereon engageable with said bar when said wheel bracket means are in the lowered position for locking said wheels and said wheel bracket means in the lowered position; and means for releasing engagement of said bar with said shoulder means whereby in response to movement of said handle, said wheels and said wheel bracket means may be moved to the raised position.

2. A wheel assembly device according to claim 6 in which said slide bar is spring loaded.

3. A wheel assembly according to claim l in which said slide bar lock assembly ymeans has a release cable means connected with said handle assembly means for releasing said slide bar from a locked position upon operation of said handle assembly means.

4. A wheel assembly device according to claim 4 in which said handle assembly means includes a lever means connected with said release cable for releasing said slide bar from said locked position, and a spring urges said slide bar in a direction for engagement with said shoulder means.

5. A wheel assembly device according to claim l in which said slide bar is elongated and extends transversely of said frame, and said frame and said slide bar have cooperating guide means for guiding said slide ba rectilinearly on said frame.

6. A wheel assembly device according to claim 5 in which said means for releasing engagement of said slide bar with said shoulder means includes a release cable connected at one end with said slide bar and connected at the other end with said handle assembly means.

7. A wheel assembly device according to claim 6 in which said handle assembly means further includes pivoted lever means operably connected with said release cable for releasing said slide bar from the locked position.

8. A wheel assembly device according to claim l in which said handle assembly means further includes means for securing said handle with said wheels and said wheel bracket means in the raised position.

x a n: t t 

1. A wheel assembly device for use in conjunction with a cement floor finishing machine, comprising: a substantially rigid frame having means for fixedly securing said device to said machine; wheel bracket means pivotally mounted on said frame for movement between a raised and a lowered position and having wheels attached thereto; lever arm assembly means operably connected with said wheel bracket means; handle assembly means including mounting means for mounting said handle assembly means on the handle of said machine, said handle assembly means including a handle operably connected with said lever arm assembly whereby, in response to movement of said handle, said wheels and said wheel bracket means may be moved between said raised and said lowered positions; slide bar lock assembly means including a slide bar slidably mounted on said frame, said wheel bracket means having shoulder means thereon engageable with said bar when said wheel bracket means are in the lowered position for locking said wheels and said wheel bracket means in the lowered position; and means for releasing engagement of said bar with said shoulder means whereby in response to movement of said handle, said wheels and said wheel bracket means may be moved to the raised position.
 2. A wheel assembly device according to claim 6 in which said slide bar is spring loaded.
 3. A wheel assembly according to claim 1 in which said slide bar lock assembly means has a release cable means connected with said handle assembly means for releasing said slide bar from a locked position upon operation of said handle assembly means.
 4. A wheel assembly device according to claim 4 in which said handle assembly means includes a lever means connected with said release cable for releasing said slide bar from said locked position, and a spring urges said slide bar in a direction for engagement with said shoulder means.
 5. A wheel assembly device according to claim 1 in which said slide bar is elongated and extends transversely of said frame, and said frame and said slide bar have cooperating guide means for guiding said slide bar rectilinearly on said frame.
 6. A wheel assembly device according to claim 5 in which said means for releasing engagement of said slide bar with said shoulder means includes a release cable connected at one end with said slide bar and connected at the other end with said handle assembly means.
 7. A wheel assembly device according to claim 6 in which said handle assembly means further includes pivoted lever means operably connected with said release cable for releasing said slide bar from the locked position.
 8. A wheel assembly device according to claim 1 in which said handle assembly means further includes means for securing said handle with said wheels and said wheel bracket means in the raised position. 